But what Remember Jones really is is a frontman and a bandleader and a showman and an entertainer to the nth degree.

In short, he’s an incredible performer. As is his whole band – the keyboard players, the drummer, the guitarist and bass player, the horn section, and backup singers.

All working together, singing original works and reworking other songs to make them their own.

I got to see them first and and up close on Saturday, when they opened for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

What a way to open a beautiful night in Asbury Park! The sun was still high and it was quite warm. Remember and his band raised the temps some more thought with their performance.

Matt Salazar on trumpet

Brielle Von Hugel

Ian Gray on trombone

Mark Masefield on organ

Roshan “The General” Karunarantne

Zac Silva on guitar

At one point, he did recommend to both his stage mates and the packed audience to drink some water…”Need to stay hydrated,” he said. They all took a break to swig some water.

Then it was back to movin’ and shakin’ and playin’ and dancing.

View from the pit – I was sharing space with my buddy Bob Schultz, there in front.

And, overseeing it all was my buddy, Zack Sander. He’s Remember Jones’ production man and tour manager. He’s been busy this summer, for sure!

I’m finding that, while diverse, the Asbury Park music scene is very intertwined.

I photographed Mark Masefield and Ian Gray earlier this year at the Wonder Bar when they sat in with Dan Amato and the Sentimental Gentleman. I photographed Roshan last summer when he played with The Front Bottoms (he’s their touring key boardist).